Author's note: Thanks, dear readers, for the lovely reviews on the last chapter! Eve, I look forward to talking with you when you have an account, make sure you introduce yourself when you do if you use a different name. It's a very nice little community here :)
Read on - things are about to take a rather unexpected turn...
By the time Sherlock had reached his cabin with John, he had convinced himself that his actions earlier with Molly had been merely due to his heightened emotions after punching the blackguard who had been trying to force himself upon her. Obviously it was some sort of artificial sentiment that had prompted him to kiss her, and his body had responded of its own accord.
Despite the fact that one part of him wanted to explore things further with Molly, the time away from her distracting presence was enough to convince him this thing between them was merely an infatuation brought on by extreme circumstances. He did not have the time to indulge in frivolous pursuits like sentiment, nor the inclination. All he needed to do was to not let things get out of hand again, which he was sure would be easy.
His brain whirled and clicked with possible solutions to his dilemma. Then he suddenly hit upon a solution that had not occurred to him before. He would explain to Molly that he was sorry, but that he did not wish to really consummate the marriage. If and when the time came for them to return to land, he could simply have the marriage annulled. Indeed, he could just tell Captain Lestrade to not file the paperwork for the marriage in the first place, and all would be well.
As soon as they entered the cabin, John said,. "So what was it you needed to discuss?"
"Nothing in particular," Sherlock confessed, with a wry smile. "I just wanted to get away from the...women."
John raised an eyebrow. "One of those women is now your wife."
"Don't remind me," groaned Sherlock, running a hand through his hair.
John frowned at him and folded his arms. "You could do worse, you know. She's actually quite a pretty little thing. Plus her birthright matches your own, and she's an heiress. What more could you want?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Sherlock's lips tightened and his voice held a note of finality in it. John, of course, paid no attention to it whatsoever.
He furrowed his brow at Sherlock. "Why not? She seems quite enamoured of you, and you were certainly not uninterested yourself earlier. I think you could make each other very happy. She might even help to soften some of your edges."
Sherlock's lips twisted in irritation. "Oh, for God's sake, John, it was a mistake. I have come to a decision. I'm not planning on actually consummating the marriage." He began to pace the room. "As soon as we return to port, it can be annulled or, and I had an even better idea, I will simply have Lestrade accidentally forget to file the paperwork. No harm done."
John reached a hand out to stop Sherlock from his pacing and gave him a withering look. "You bloody moron. She's out there and she likes you. Do you have the first idea of how lucky you are to have met someone who actually evokes some emotional response in you?"
Sherlock pursed his lips. He and John had been through this before. "Romantic entanglement-"
"Not this again, Sherlock. If you want to ruin what is probably your only chance at actually finding happiness, be it on your own head. I'm going to my cabin now - think about what I've said." He glared at Sherlock and turned to leave.
Suddenly, Sherlock remembered there was something he wanted John's opinion on after all. "Wait. I have something to show you."
John turned back to Sherlock and folded his arms again. "What is it?" he asked, in a resigned tone of voice. At least he isn't arguing anymore with me, thought Sherlock with an inner smile of triumph.
"I brought along some clothes, and I want to know if you think they look sufficiently outrageous enough to make me seem like an ignorant yet titled man," he explained to his friend. Sherlock always respected his opinion and sought his approval quite often on different matters.
John drew his brows together. "I'm assuming this is for when we encounter the pirates?"
Sherlock blew out an impatient breath. His friend was very good at stating the obvious. "Yes of course, now turn your back so I can get changed and show you."
John rolled his eyes, but complied, and Sherlock hastily drew out the clothing from his wardrobe, put the garments on and said, "Okay, you can turn around now. What do you think?"
John immediately laughed out loud at his attire. "Well, you definitely don't look like the Sherlock I know. That outfit is certainly outrageous, especially that long sash."
Sherlock sniffed superciliously and pressed his lips together at his friend's amusement. This was a serious matter. "So you think it will work?"
John merely smirked at the expression on Sherlock's face, and said, "I'd say so. Now can I go to my own cabin?"
Well, at least John approved, even if he did think it amusing. "Yes, yes, of course. Thank you John. I'll see you in the morning." Sherlock waved a hand at his friend dismissively
"I hope I don't see you in the morning, it's your wedding night, after all," muttered John as he left the cabin, and Sherlock knew his friend was clinging to the false hope that he would be too busy with his wife to have any contact with anyone else in the morning. With a sigh, Sherlock sat down at the small table on which he had put the tray of food.
For some time, he sat with steepled fingers in silent contemplation. Why was John trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill? He was content with his life as it was. He didn't need someone in it permanently who would require his protection.
Finally, there was a knock at the door, and he stood, knowing it would be the women. Despite himself, he could not help the look of appreciation he gave Molly at her attire and her lovely unbound hair. It was truly exquisite, and the folded scarf banded around her head gave her almost a gypsy-like look.
He felt once again a little flutter of emotion surge within him and pushed it down, determined to keep it at bay.
Even as he complimented Molly on her appearance, and she noticed his own change of clothes, he felt that inexplicable desire to kiss her again. Fortunately he was distracted from those unwanted thoughts by Mrs. Hudson, having put away the clothes she had given Molly, And he resolved anew to keep control of himself. But why was it so difficult?
After Mrs. Hudson left, the suggestion about taking a walk was more to do with him trying to cool himself off rather than for Molly's benefit. Mrs. Hudson's innuendo about his wedding night had made him very uncomfortable And even more aware of the young woman who now shared his name. Control, control, he ordered himself sternly, as his eyes continually strayed to Molly's lips, and he thought how pleasing it had been to kiss her.
As soon as they left the cabin for their walk, Sherlock decided it was time to tell Molly his plans. He glanced at her briefly as they walked and said, "Molly, I must tell you that I have decided I have no intention of truly making you my wife tonight, or any night, in fact."
Molly looked at him in surprise, and he thought he detected a note of hurt in her voice when she asked, "You do not find me…attractive then?"
He ran a hand through his hair in agitation and stopped walking to look at her directly. "You must understand, Molly. I'm a man of science, not sentiment. I don't know what happened earlier; I suppose it was the relief I felt that I was able to save you. I don't intend for it to happen again." her face fell before his as he continued. "No, indeed; let me tell you what I have in mind." He began to walk again, and she did so as well.
"Okay," she said in a disappointed voice, and he was aware that she obviously had been hoping for more from him. He noticed that her hands were clasped together in front of her, as if she were trying to stop them from trembling.
He didn't want to hurt her, she was obviously infatuated with him, but this was best for both of them. She deserved to find happiness with a man who would truly love her and want to take care of her. "I have decided that once this mission is over, and we return to port, I shall ask Captain Lestrade to not file the papers for our marriage. Nobody needs to know there was even a ceremony. Then we will find a place for you to stay until you are five-and-twenty and can claim your inheritance."
Her gaze lifted to his, and she asked in a small voice, "What about the sailors? Won't they talk about our marriage?"
Sherlock had already thought about this and had an answer ready. "They can easily be bought off. With the reward money I shall receive from this mission, that should be no problem at all. We shall both be free to continue our lives as before." he was quite proud of himself and his brilliance at coming up with such a foolproof plan to extricate himself from this unwanted situation.
They had reached a part of the deck with a large crate which held the extra sails for the journey. "If that is what you feel you must do, I shall not try to dissuade you from it," Molly said, not looking at him, but he heard the anguish in her voice. Then she did look up at him. "Can we rest for a few minutes?" she asked, biting her lip. "It is a beautiful night, and I would just like to look up at the stars for a little while." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and Sherlock knew that his words had hurt her.
"Very well." He set the lantern on the crate beside her as she leaned back to look up at the stars. He couldn't help thinking how beautiful she looked, with those bare shoulders and her head thrown back to expose the swan-like column of her throat.
For some minutes he stood patiently, as she continued to look upwards, while he looked at her. Finally, Molly said in a small voice, tilting her head back down to look at him, "Sherlock, may I ask just one thing of you?"
He gave her a questioning look. "If it is within my power to do so, I shall certainly do as you ask."
Her lips trembled slightly, and he could see there were tears in her eyes as she asked, "Would you...would you kiss me just once more?"
Just one kiss. That couldn't hurt, could it? "Very well, one kiss," he agreed.
He bent forward, resting a hand on either side of Molly, on the crate. Then, as if a magnet pulled him towards her, he kissed her. It was supposed to be a gentle one that lasted merely seconds, but as soon as their lips met, he felt again the sensations he had experienced earlier. This time there were no excuses for his body's reaction to her. Her mouth moulds so perfectly with mine, he thought distractedly as the kiss continued. His brain was telling him to stop but his body had other ideas.
Her hands came around his neck while his moved to pull her closer to him. Why is this happening again?
He didn't understand it. He had a sudden urge to kiss those soft, bare shoulders, and followed the impulse. They were indeed as soft as they looked, just like the woman in his arms.
Their lips met again in a passionate kiss, and Sherlock found himself losing control of his senses. It was only when Molly made a little sigh of pleasure that he was jolted back to reality. What the hell am I doing?
With a tremendous effort, he wrenched his lips away from hers. "God, Molly, don't do this to me."
She looked at him wide-eyed, with a face that was flushed with passion. "D...do what?"
"Look at me that way, tempt me. I don't have time for this," he said in a harsh tone, even as he struggled to control the fire that continued to leap through his veins. He knew he was being cruel to her, but this was the way it had to be. Her eyes were luminous and immediately filled with tears and he hated himself for it. "Come on," he said a little more kindly. "Let's go back to the cabin."
As soon as they were back inside, Molly said, "I'm sorry, Sherlock. I just wanted one kiss to…remember you by." He observed that several tears had made their way down her cheeks.
He sighed. "Don't cry, Molly. I'm as much to blame as you were. I allowed myself to get caught up in it." He had a strong desire to kiss away those tears, to abandon everything and just lose himself in her, but he knew it would be a mistake, so he merely added, "I see that Mrs. Hudson gave you a nightgown and left it on the chair there. You should change into it now and then we can say goodnight and go to bed."
"Yes, Sherlock," Molly responded tremulously. She picked up the nightgown, Then she walked slowly into the smaller cabin, closing the door behind her.
Sherlock waited for her to emerge from her cabin in the nightgown. Why isn't she coming back? he wondered after several minutes had elapsed.
He decided to get ready for bed himself, and changed into his nightshirt. When Molly still didn't reappear, he grew impatient and went to the door, knocking on it softly. "Molly?" There was no answer. He turned the door handle and went inside.
From the light that filtered in through his own cabin, he could see she was laying on the small bunk, curled up into a foetal position. By the soft, shuddering noises of her breathing, he could tell she had cried herself to sleep, and his heart ached for her. He hadn't intended for her to have to continue sleeping in this bunk, his bed certainly had enough room for both of them, he had seen that for himself the previous night. She seemed so small and defenceless, and he felt like a brute. This was his fault for giving her false hope.
He bent down and brushed his lips against her forehead, and she made an inarticulate murmur in her sleep. Then he went back to his big, empty bed. It was quite some time before he was able to sleep.
Author's note: Were you disappointed with Sherlock's behaviour in changing his mind about things? Does it make you want to just shake him and tell him he is a fool? Believe me, I wrote this, and his change of heart annoys the heck out of me as well LOL. (I did not plan his change of heart in advance. I had no idea it would happen until the scene came out of my mouth into my microphone and onto my iPad. Funny how that happens, sometimes). But, I think it makes sense and fits his character, so I hope you agree.
This chapter contains a scene that corresponds to the title cover of this story. I always wanted to make sure that I inserted a scene that included it. The original image was a manip posted on Tumblr by cumbercougars, which I requested to use. So my thanks to her for it! (She is also the talented person who provided the title cover for my The Princess and the Scholar story). I added the "Love Pirate" title myself, however. So, that picture really did inspire that lovely scene between them that I hope you enjoyed.
Did you notice the little bit of canon in the conversation between Sherlock and John? I always have to add those little things just to keep the story tied in to the series in some way.
I hope you are liking the slow burn of this story.
By the way, my mum is arriving today from Australia, for an extended visit until after Christmas (yay, haven't seen her in over 2 years). I will try to keep up my publishing schedule, but it will be a little more challenging to keep to it. Obviously I want to maximize my precious time with my mum, but not keep my readers waiting too long!